Ever since my parents took me to my first White Sox game when I was 9, I’ve loved Chicago. I always imagined I would end up living there someday. I considered going to college at DePaul before choosing Notre Dame. I almost went to graduate school at UIC before settling on Michigan State. I did eventually end up in Chicago for 5½ years when I began my Census Bureau career. When I left by accepting a transfer to Maryland, and then to here in Southern Indiana, I thought I would be back. Twelve years and two kids later, the idea of returning to Chicago began to seem less and less likely.

However, and opportunity has presented itself, and after some very serious and careful consideration, I have decided to accept a transfer back to the Census Bureau’s Chicago Regional Office, located in Oak Brook. Nearly all of the details are yet to be worked out, but my first day there is tentatively scheduled for Monday, August 21. My eleven years of working for the Bureau’s Jeffersonville (NPC) office have been both rewarding and challenging, and I feel that I am at a point in my career where I need a change of scenery.

We have just barely begun the process of looking for a new home, so I can’t yet tell you where we will be living, but we are focused on the western portions of Lake County, Indiana. As a native Hoosier, I am partial to my home state and living in Illinois doesn’t seem terribly appealing right now. Still, I want the commute to not be any lengthier than necessary, thus western Lake County. I will provide more details once they are determined.

Even though I’ve lived in Southern Indiana for 11 years now, I’ve always favored the northern part of the state over the southern. There are people and things about this area that I will miss, but the opportunity to take full advantage of everything Chicago far outweighs that for me. More/better cultural opportunities, closer to White Sox games, closer to Notre Dame football games (which only becomes relevant after they wake up and ditch their coach) and closer to a beach. Also, you may find this weird, but I’m very excited to be moving back to the Central Time Zone, which is what all of Indiana should be on anyway.

My wife and children have developed strong bonds that will have to be severed, and I am very appreciative that they are supporting this move as one that will be best for the family even though not their personal preference. My wife will have to leave a job and co-workers that she absolutely loves. The kids will both have to change schools again, leave behind friends, and find new Cub and Girl Scout packs/troops. I want to especially thank the babysitters, preschool teachers, elementary school teachers, Sunday school teachers and scout leaders who have all been a very important influence on the first 9 and 7½ years of our children’s lives. Perhaps the most important challenge that my wife and I face in this move is finding and selecting the right people to fill these new roles for our children.

While there are still a lot of uncertainties that are the source of anxiety right now, I am very excited to start the next chapter of my career and life. I have updated and will continue to update my About page as we sort out exactly where we are going to live.